Ads by Sidebar Dock

What is Sidebar Dock?

Sidebar Dock is a deceptive application that supposedly allows users to create a desktop sidebar and fill it with various shortcuts - "Sidebar Dock is an advanced desktop window based docking station, designed to optimize user performances by giving you access to your favourite sites, applications and news feeds."

These false claims are used to trick users into believing that Sidebar Dock is legitimate. In fact, this application is classed as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP). The reason for these negative associations is the dubious behavior of Sidebar Dock, which includes stealth installation, display of advertisements, and tracking of users' Internet browsing activity.

Sidebar Dock employs a virtual layer to generate intrusive online advertisements on any visited websites. None originate from the visited sites and they conceal underlying web content, thereby diminishing the Internet browsing experience. Ads generated by Sidebar Dock may appear harmless, however, some redirect to malicious websites.

Therefore, there is a high probability that clicking them will cause high-risk adware or malware infections. Furthermore, Sidebar Dock continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity and gathers various information, some of which may be personally identifiable.

This information is shared with third parties who can misuse it to generate revenue. For these reasons, the presence of Sidebar Dock adware on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you are concerned with your privacy and Internet browsing safety, eliminate this PUP immediately.

There are hundreds of other adware-type applications such as Temperature Scout, Note-up, and RecommendationBox - they have similar behvior and also offer useful functionality. Claims to improve the Internet browsing experience are merely attempts to trick users to install.

The purpose of adware-type applications is to generate revenue by delivering intrusive online advertisements (via the 'Pay Per Click' - PPC - advertising model) and collecting personally identifiable information (which is later sold to third party companies). Users receive no real value.

How did Sidebar Dock install on my computer?

Adware-type applications, including Sidebar Dock, are often distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of third party programs with regular software/apps).

Developers hide rogue apps such as Sidebar Dock within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings, since they are aware that many users do not express enough caution and often skip this section (which leads to installation of rogue applications and exposure to risk of further infections).

The developers are concerned only with amount of revenue generated (which is dependent on the number of distributed apps), and thus, do not properly disclose installation of rogue programs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

The key computer safety is caution. Be attentive when downloading and installing software. Select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings and study all steps, declining any offers to install additional software (you can never be sure that promoted applications are legitimate).

Sidebar Dock adware installer set-up:

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Quick menu:

• What is Sidebar Dock?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Sidebar Dock application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Sidebar Dock adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Sidebar Dock ads from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Sidebar Dock' from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Sidebar Dock ads from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Sidebar Dock adware removal:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window, look for "Sidebar Dock", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes Sidebar Dock ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove Sidebar Dock adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Sidebar Dock did not install its browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, however, it was bundled with other adware. Therefore, you are advised to remove all potentially unwanted browser add-ons from your Internet browsers.

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the sidebar dock adware, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the sidebar dock adware, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with sidebar dock adware removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the sidebar dock adware, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.

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